Small town romance comp titles for your query letter (updated 2026)

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When you’re querying a small town romance, choosing the right comp titles can make or break your chances of being published because agents and publishing house editors use comp titles as a quick way to gauge the genre of your book along with its market potential.

I regularly update this list of small town romance comp titles to make sure you’re always working with relevant books.

No matter if you’re writing a sweet, slow-burn small town romance or something fast and spicy, you’ll find titles below to help you write a killer query letter!

If you’re looking for something a bit more specific, check out my romance comp database.

  1. A Very Merry MistakeAuthor: Lyra ParishYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, christmas, contemporary, forced proximity, holiday, small town
  2. Against a WallAuthor: Cate C. WellsYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, fake dating, humor, new adult, slow burn, small town
  3. All Rhodes Lead HereAuthor: Mariana ZapataYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, friends to lovers, slow burn, small town
  4. At Whit's EndAuthor: Bailey HannahYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, forced proximity, found family, friends to lovers, he falls first, small town
  5. Beg, Borrow, or StealAuthor: Sarah AdamsYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, enemies to lovers, rom com, small town
  6. Beneath the StarsAuthor: Emily McIntireYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, friends to lovers, new adult, second chance, small town
  7. Beneath the WreckageAuthor: Catherine CowlesYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, friends to lovers, small town, suspense, workplace
  8. Bring Me BackAuthor: Kristen GranataYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, friends to lovers, mental health, slow burn, small town
  9. Chasing ForeverAuthor: Piper RayneYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, found family, friends to lovers, he falls first, slow burn, small town
  10. Chasing the WildAuthor: Elliott RoseYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, dark, forbidden romance, forced proximity, small town
  11. Come With MeAuthor: Brooke MontgomeryYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, friends to lovers, novella, second chance, small town
  12. Cowboy CasualAuthor: Holly ReneeYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, second chance, small town
  13. Crazy in LoveAuthor: Laura PavlovYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, billionaire, contemporary, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, found family, slow burn, small town
  14. Crimson RiverAuthor: Devney PerryYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, mystery, small town, suspense
  15. CrossroadsAuthor: Devney PerryYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, friends to lovers, second chance, small town
  16. Delicate EscapeAuthor: Catherine CowlesYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, found family, friends to lovers, he falls first, small town, suspense
  17. Done and DustedAuthor: Lyla SageYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, enemies to lovers, small town
  18. DownpourAuthor: Maggie C. GatesYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, disability, forced proximity, found family, small town, workplace
  19. Drive Me WildAuthor: Melanie HarlowYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, new adult, rom com, small town, sports
  20. DukeAuthor: Jessica PetersonYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, forced proximity, found family, friends to lovers, he falls first, small town
  21. Dust StormAuthor: Maggie C. GatesYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, found family, small town, workplace
  22. Eleven ElevenAuthor: Micalea SmeltzerYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forbidden romance, forced proximity, found family, he falls first, small town
  23. Fall at OnceAuthor: Nora EverlyYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, firefighters, halloween, holiday, small town
  24. Fall Too WellAuthor: Erin BranscomYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, holiday, rom com, second chance, small town
  25. FightAuthor: Sloane St. JamesYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, firefighters, forced proximity, small town, workplace
  26. Finding YouAuthor: Lena HendrixYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, friends to lovers, military, small town, workplace
  27. Finn Rhodes ForeverAuthor: Stephanie ArcherYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, friends to lovers, rom com, second chance, small town
  28. Fire LineAuthor: Maggie C. GatesYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, found family, he falls first, small town, workplace
  29. FlawlessAuthor: Elsie SilverYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, small town, sports
  30. Freeing the WildAuthor: Paisley HopeYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, celebrity, contemporary, cowboy, forced proximity, found family, small town
  31. GunnerAuthor: Rebecca SharpYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, forced proximity, mystery, small town, suspense
  32. HeartlessAuthor: Elsie SilverYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, small town
  33. Hold Me Until MorningAuthor: A.L. JacksonYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, he falls first, second chance, small town, suspense
  34. Holding the ReinsAuthor: Paisley HopeYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, friends to lovers, small town, sports
  35. Honeymoon PhaseAuthor: Amy DawsYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, friends to lovers, marriage of convenience, rom com, small town
  36. I Wish I Knew ThenAuthor: Jessica PetersonYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, second chance, small town
  37. If It Makes You HappyAuthor: Julie OliviaYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, cozy, friends to lovers, slow burn, small town
  38. If This Was a MovieAuthor: Morgan ElizabethYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, christmas, contemporary, forced proximity, found family, holiday, rom com, second chance, small town
  39. In a JamAuthor: Kate CanterbaryYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, fake dating, forced proximity, friends to lovers, marriage of convenience, second chance, slow burn, small town
  40. In Your DreamsAuthor: Sarah AdamsYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, friends to lovers, rom com, small town
  41. Juniper HillAuthor: Devney PerryYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, found family, small town
  42. Like You Love MeAuthor: Adriana LockeYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, fake dating, friends to lovers, marriage of convenience, rom com, small town
  43. Lost and LassoedAuthor: Lyla SageYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, small town
  44. Love and Lattes at Pumpkin HollowAuthor: Victoria WaltersYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, cozy, halloween, small town
  45. Love ArrangedAuthor: Lauren AsherYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, billionaire, contemporary, enemies to lovers, fake dating, second chance, small town
  46. Love Next DoorAuthor: Helena HuntingYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, enemies to lovers, rom com, small town
  47. Love You, Mean ItAuthor: Laura PavlovYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, found family, he falls first, slow burn, small town
  48. Maggie Moves OnAuthor: Lucy ScoreYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, forced proximity, rom com, small town
  49. Mistletoe Meet CuteAuthor: Bella MatthewsYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, christmas, football, forced proximity, holiday, novella, small town, sports
  50. Mixed SignalsAuthor: B.K. BorisonYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, fake dating, friends to lovers, rom com, small town
  51. More Than I CouldAuthor: Adriana LockeYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, friends to lovers, rom com, small town, workplace
  52. Mountain GrumpAuthor: S.J. TillyYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, friends to lovers, marriage of convenience, plus size, small town, smut
  53. Part of Your WorldAuthor: Abby JimenezYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, small town
  54. People WatchingAuthor: Hannah Bonam-YoungYear published: 2025Genre and themes: LGBT, adult, chick lit, contemporary, friends to lovers, small town
  55. Practice Makes PerfectAuthor: Sarah AdamsYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, fake dating, friends to lovers, rom com, small town
  56. ProtectAuthor: Paisley HopeYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, firefighters, forced proximity, friends to lovers, second chance, small town
  57. Resisting the GrumpAuthor: Ashley MunozYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, new adult, second chance, small town
  58. Rewriting the StarsAuthor: Claire KingsleyYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, firefighters, forbidden romance, friends to lovers, small town
  59. Riven KnightAuthor: Devney PerryYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, marriage of convenience, mystery, slow burn, small town, suspense
  60. RootboundAuthor: Tarah DeWittYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, forced proximity, slow burn, small town
  61. SawyerAuthor: Jessica PetersonYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, found family, friends to lovers, he falls first, small town
  62. Secret HavenAuthor: Catherine CowlesYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, found family, friends to lovers, marriage of convenience, second chance, small town, suspense
  63. Seven Year ItchAuthor: Amy DawsYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, rom com, small town
  64. Sleigh Bells and SnowstormsAuthor: Claire KingsleyYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, christmas, contemporary, holiday, small town, suspense
  65. SomedayAuthor: Willow AsterYear published: 2023Genre and themes: abuse, adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, second chance, small town
  66. Soul SearchingAuthor: Lyla SageYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, small town
  67. Story of My LifeAuthor: Lucy ScoreYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, small town
  68. Sunday MorningAuthor: Jewel E. AnnYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, forbidden romance, new adult, small town
  69. Sweet TemptationAuthor: Bella MatthewsYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, football, forced proximity, friends to lovers, he falls first, small town, sports
  70. Swift and SaddledAuthor: Lyla SageYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, forced proximity, small town
  71. TemptAuthor: Melanie HarlowYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, age gap, contemporary, forbidden romance, military, plus size, small town, smut
  72. The Bright Side of ChristmasAuthor: Morgan ElizabethYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, christmas, contemporary, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, holiday, rom com, small town
  73. The Cinnamon Bun Book StoreAuthor: Laurie GilmoreYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, cozy, mystery, small town
  74. The Cinnamon Spice InnAuthor: Harper GrahamYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, cozy, enemies to lovers, second chance, small town
  75. The Honeycrisp Orchard InnAuthor: Valerie BowmanYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, cozy, forced proximity, friends to lovers, small town
  76. The Strawberry Patch Pancake HouseAuthor: Laurie GilmoreYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, cozy, forced proximity, small town
  77. The Summer GirlAuthor: Elle KennedyYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, friends to lovers, new adult, small town, summer, summer reads
  78. The Summer I Saved YouAuthor: ["Elizabeth O'Roark"]Year published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, friends to lovers, second chance, small town, workplace
  79. The Sweet SpotAuthor: Adriana LockeYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, baseball, contemporary, friends to lovers, slow burn, small town, sports
  80. The Sweetheart ListAuthor: Jill ShalvisYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, family, small town, womens fiction
  81. Things We Hide from the LightAuthor: Lucy ScoreYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, forced proximity, slow burn, small town
  82. Things We Never Got OverAuthor: Lucy ScoreYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, book club, contemporary, enemies to lovers, fake dating, small town
  83. TimelessAuthor: Devney PerryYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, billionaire, contemporary, he falls first, novella, slow burn, small town
  84. Tourist TrapAuthor: Morgan ElizabethYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, found family, friends to lovers, small town, summer, summer reads
  85. Training the HeartAuthor: Paisley HopeYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, forced proximity, small town, workplace
  86. What Happens at the LakeAuthor: Vi KeelandYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, rom com, small town, sports
  87. When in RomeAuthor: Sarah AdamsYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, forced proximity, rom com, small town
  88. When You BlushAuthor: Kristen ProbyYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, found family, he falls first, small town, surprise pregnancy, workplace
  89. Wild and WrangledAuthor: Lyla SageYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, friends to lovers, second chance, small town
  90. Wild at HeartAuthor: K.A. TuckerYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, new adult, small town
  91. Wild CardAuthor: Elsie SilverYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forbidden romance, forced proximity, second chance, slow burn, small town
  92. Wild EyesAuthor: Elsie SilverYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, forced proximity, friends to lovers, small town
  93. Wild RiverAuthor: Laura PavlovYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, found family, he falls first, small town
  94. Wild SideAuthor: Elsie SilverYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, found family, marriage of convenience, small town, sports

Other resources to assist with your querying journey

Comp titles are only a small piece of the querying puzzle! Here are other resources I offer to help writers achieve their dreams of publishing their novels:

Frequently asked questions

How recent do comp titles need to be?

Comp titles should be published within the past five to seven years so it is representative of the current market potential of your manuscript.

Can I use bestselling books as a comp title?

Yes, you can! However, the bestselling books aren’t always the most suitable options. While it’s integral that a comp title has sold well, it’s better to choose a comp title that’s sold less well but closer represents the tone and overall vibe of your own book.

How many comp titles should I include in my query letter?

You should aim for two comp titles in your query letter. You can include three, but agents would expect more than one.

Can I use a series as a comp title?

You can, but it’s best to pick a specific book within that series that best represents your manuscript.

What if I can’t find a small town romance comp title that fits my book?

You can broaden your horizons to also include other subgenres of romance!”